Paramedic Program

It is the goal of Blinn College EMS Programs to educate and prepare the student with the technical skills required for employment in the field of Emergency Medical Services. The program is based on knowledge and skills utilized in prehospital care and emergency centers. This includes, but is not limited to: patient assessment, oxygen therapy, medication administration, shock management, bandaging and splinting, cardiac management, medical emergency management, childbirth, pediatric emergencies, and scene management.

People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics—EMTs with additional advanced training to perform more difficult prehospital medical procedures. Incidents as varied as automobile accidents, heart attacks, drowning, childbirth, and gunshot wounds all require immediate medical attention. EMTs and Paramedics provide this vital attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.

In an emergency, EMTs and Paramedics typically are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator, and often work with police and fire department personnel. Once they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of the patient’s condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has preexisting medical problems. Following strict rules and guidelines, they give appropriate emergency care and, when necessary, transport the patient. Paramedics are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home without transporting them to a medical facility.

Emergency treatment for more complicated problems is carried out under the direction of medical doctors by radio preceding or during transport.

Paramedics use special equipment, such as IV therapy, cardiac monitoring, endotracheal intubation and medication administration. Paramedics work as part of the flight crew on helicopters or fixed wing aircraft that transport critically ill or injured patients to hospital trauma centers.

At the medical facility, EMTs and Paramedics help transfer patients to the emergency department, report their observations and actions to emergency room staff, and may provide additional emergency treatment. After each run, EMTs and Paramedics replace used supplies and check equipment. If a transported patient had a contagious disease, EMTs and Paramedics decontaminate the interior of the ambulance and report cases to the proper authorities.

EMS Program Grading Policy Summary Statement - In order to “successfully” complete an EMS Certification (ECA, EMT-B, EMT-P, LP) course, the student must maintain an 80% average or higher in each EMSP course AND score an 80% or higher on their final exam. Grades are not rounded in the EMS program. Students who meet the requirements will be issued a course completion, which allows the student to take the appropriate certification exam.

Academic Prerequisites for the Paramedic Program:

Texas Department of State Health Services EMT certification or ability to gain certification within 30 days of the beginning of the paramedic academy. (this applies to those taking EMT in the summer session only; all others should be currently certified)

One semester of College level human Anatomy & Physiology with a final grade of “C” or better. If a student lacks this requirement the student may be able to co-enroll during the first semester; continuation in the 2nd and 3rd semesters of coursework is contingent upon successful completion of this College level human Anatomy & Physiology course with a final grade of “C” or better.

Appropriate scores on the TSI Assessment test OR successful completion of necessary developmental courses OR be TSI exempt/waived.

CPR Training at the Health Care Provider level is required prior to starting clinical rotations and is not included in the class.

This course also requires the student to have met the vaccine requirements listed by the Blinn College Department of Allied Health prior to beginning clinical rotations. Please contact the Program Director with questions regarding this matter.